An extratropical cyclone has struck the Atlantic coasts of Argentina and Uruguay, triggering intense rainfall and mandatory evacuations.
The storm's intensity poses a significant threat to coastal infrastructure and public safety, resulting in flooded streets and dangerous maritime conditions across two nations.
Reports indicate the system remained active from Tuesday, April 24, 2024, through Sunday, April 26, 2024 [3, 4, 5]. The weather event was caused by the formation of an extratropical atmospheric depression, which produced heavy precipitation and violent wind gusts [2, 6].
In Uruguay, the storm heavily impacted the Canelones department, specifically affecting the areas of Ciudad de la Costa and Salinas [7]. Meteorological services said wind speeds would exceed 100 km/h in these regions [2].
Across the border in Argentina, the cyclone battered the Atlantic coast, with Mar del Plata and Monte Hermoso among the hardest-hit locations [1, 3]. The province of Buenos Aires experienced wind gusts reaching 100 km/h on Sunday, April 26, 2024 [4, 5].
Maritime conditions became extreme as the cyclone pushed water toward the shore. The storm generated waves reaching up to seven meters [1]. These surges contributed to the flooding of urban streets, and forced residents in high-risk zones to evacuate their homes [1, 3].
“The storm generated waves reaching up to seven meters.”
The occurrence of an extratropical cyclone with such high wind speeds and wave heights underscores the vulnerability of the Rio de la Plata basin to severe atmospheric depressions. Because these systems can cause rapid coastal erosion and urban flooding, the event highlights the necessity for integrated early-warning systems between Argentina and Uruguay to manage cross-border meteorological disasters.
